The MPEC has gone to the dogs as the Golden Retriever Club of America National Specialty gets underway.

The MPEC has gone to the dogs. It's hosting a big event this week for members of the Golden Retriever Club of America.

The last time the Golden Retriever Club of America National Specialty was held in Texas, it was in Plano 21 years ago.

Now it's back and it has has participants unleashing nothing but great things about the MPEC and the city of Wichita Falls.

For the next week and a half these four-legged athletes will be competing for the title of "top dog" in several events.

However, when it comes to Texas cities competing to host this event, coordinators say Wichita Falls won hands down.

"We are actually with the Dallas Fort Worth Metro Golden Retriever Club so we looked everywhere in Dallas/Fort Worth for a suitable facility that had what we need. Doesn't exist," says Sherri Farmer, co-chair of the GRCA National Specialty.

But coordinators say everything needed for the golden retriever trials existed at the MPEC and dog owners agreed.

"As to Austin and Dallas, they don't have the same kind of agricultural building and the numbers of agricultural building that can host an event like this.... a big national, specialty event for golden retrievers," says Austin resident Susan Roehm.

"I love the indoor facility for the agility. I like the dirt. It's easier on their joints when they're running and jumping. So, the surface is great for agility," says Destiny Martell, who came from Tallahassee, Florida to attend the event.

And coordinators say this event will be great at pumping the dollars of about 2,500 dog owners into the local economy.

"We eat a lot. We drink a lot and we stay in hotels. So everybody should be feeling the impact of everybody being here," says Donna Todd, co-chair of the GRCA National Specialty.

An impact that has people and their golden retrievers enjoying the city of blue skies and golden opportunities.

The GRCA National Specialty will run through Wednesday, October 30th.

It's free and open to the public to watch.

To check out the GRCA National Specialty Schedule of Event, click the following link: